Put on administrative leave the day before the season, Royals head coach is officially out

After an internal investigation, the Edmonds School District decided to release Adam Fermstad from his contract as Lynnwood head football coach late Wednesday, permanently cutting ties with the young head coach, said school district spokesperson D.J. Jakala.

"The district and school officials decided that the best step would be to release him at this time," Jakala said.

Jakala refused to comment on the reason for Fermstad's release, citing confidentiality for all employee matters.

Two weeks ago on the day of Lynnwood's season opener, Fermstad was placed on administrative leave as the school district's human resources department conducted an investigation involving the coach. Fermstad was not allowed to be present at Royals practices or games during the investigation and hasn't been with the team since Monday, Sept. 2.

Keuntea Bankhead and Danny Hawkins will continue to serve as co-interim head coaches for the Royals, who are 0-2 and face Mountlake Terrace Friday night.

"These kids have been working hard," Bankhead wrote in an email to The Herald. "Us as coaches have been bettering ourselves also to put these kids in the best position to win football games. The only mission Danny and I have right now is keep our kids focused on the goals we set for this season. We are taking things day by day."

Fermstad, 25, took over in 2012 after Mike Don, now the Meadowdale coach, left for Brewster. He was the fifth Royals head coach since 2006.

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